W Y Sun1, J S Wu. 1. Office of Child Health Planning, New York City Department of Health, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of dietary self-efficacy and behavior among US-born, foreign-born Chinese-American, and native Chinese students. METHODS: The total number of subjects participated in the study was 239 from New York and Guangzhou, China. The research instrument was composed of demographic information, dietary behavior, and self-efficacy of dietary behavior. RESULTS: Results indicated that native Chinese students had the lowest scores in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intake followed by foreign-born and US-born Chinese-American students in that order. Native Chinese students also had the highest scores in complex carbohydrate and fiber intake as well as dietary self-efficacy followed by foreign-born and US-born Chinese-American students. In addition, self-efficacy was positively correlated with dietary behavior, and the age of immigration of foreign-born Chinese-American students was positively correlated with the scores of dietary behavior and self-efficacy of dietary behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that environmental and cultural influences are important factors affecting dietary behavior and self-efficacy of dietary behavior among these students.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of dietary self-efficacy and behavior among US-born, foreign-born Chinese-American, and native Chinese students. METHODS: The total number of subjects participated in the study was 239 from New York and Guangzhou, China. The research instrument was composed of demographic information, dietary behavior, and self-efficacy of dietary behavior. RESULTS: Results indicated that native Chinese students had the lowest scores in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intake followed by foreign-born and US-born Chinese-American students in that order. Native Chinese students also had the highest scores in complex carbohydrate and fiber intake as well as dietary self-efficacy followed by foreign-born and US-born Chinese-American students. In addition, self-efficacy was positively correlated with dietary behavior, and the age of immigration of foreign-born Chinese-American students was positively correlated with the scores of dietary behavior and self-efficacy of dietary behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that environmental and cultural influences are important factors affecting dietary behavior and self-efficacy of dietary behavior among these students.
Authors: Arianna D McClain; Courtney Chappuis; Selena T Nguyen-Rodriguez; Amy L Yaroch; Donna Spruijt-Metz Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2009-08-12 Impact factor: 6.457